Murray State University’s Board of Regents are expected to vote Friday on the budget for the next academic year. The budget is expected to balance a $4.5 million decline this year and address $1.8 million in fixed cost increases.
President Bob Davies has said the decline is due to a variety of factors including fewer students at the junior and senior levels and fewer graduate students. He has said fixed cost increases include insurance, legal services and utilities.
The board approved earlier this year a 5% increase in tuition and fees to offset potential future pressures from Frankfort.
According to an agenda, the meeting includes board action on a new master’s degree for occupational therapy and merging the departments of modern languages and theatre.
Action also involves the ‘deletions’ of a master’s degree in nursing, a bachelor’s degrees in recreation and leisure studies and certificate in professional telecommunications systems management. Director of Communication Shawn Touney said that the deletion of a program could be in its ‘current standing’ and may be rolled over or transitioned into another academic program.
The board will also formally appoint Mark Arant as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
There will also be an overview of final Spring 2017 enrollment and preliminary fall enrollment, discussion about new academic centers, an update on Spring College (that had closed due to a mold issue) and a ‘health services review update’ (the board has been considering a variety of options involving potential changes that may include reforming or outsourcing healthcare and mental health services).
